Can’t-Miss Tips For Catching More Spring Pike
Catching northern pike in the spring is a blast. Early in the season, pike congregate in specific areas and can be caught casting spoons, jerkbaits and many other lures. Here are some tips to improve your success when heading out this spring in search of these aggressive, toothy predators.
CONCENTRATE ON SHALLOW WATER NEAR SPAWNING AREAS
Northern pike spawn after ice out in swollen creeks, back bays, marshes and flooded shorelines. Afterwards, they loiter in and around these areas, feeding on baitfish and other prey.
Sandy beaches, shorelines, points and sheltered bays near spawning grounds are a few common spring pike locations. Expect pike to concentrate around sunken logs, rock piles, aquatic vegetation and other forms of cover and structure.
Tip: Pike often hold in nearby deeper water during inclement weather and cold fronts, and will return to shallow water once the weather stabilizes and temperatures rise.
THE IMPORTANCE OF VISUAL AND SONIC LURE CHARACTERISTICS
Northerns are always looking for an easy meal. As a result, many of the best pike fishing lures are attention-getters, producing plenty of flash and vibration, while also appearing vulnerable.
One spring pike fishing essential is the Rattlin’ Minnow Spoon. With a wide sweeping, flashing action and an internal rattle chamber, this spoon attracts pike from far and wide. Its weedless design is advantageous, too, for fishing the types of shallow, heavy cover areas where pike lurk in spring.
Cold water and fluctuating spring weather patterns can cause pike to be choosy, so it’s wise to have some variety in your tackle box. A few other proven spring pike baits delivering ample flash and vibrations are Husky Jerks, Rippin’ Raps and Vibrax inline spinners — all now available in several new, hot colours for riling-up big northerns.
KEEP AN OPEN MIND ON LURE SPEED
Pay attention to how pike respond to the speed and movements of different presentations. Then tailor tactics accordingly.
Generally, pike are more inclined to chase and lash out at a fast moving lure during warm, stable weather. This can mean several consecutive days of nice conditions. Yet, even several hours of steady sun exposure can warm the water within a sheltered, shallow area enough to stimulate pike feeding activity.
Conversely, cool mornings and cold fronts can shutdown pike. Maximizing strikes during these conditions often requires a slow, methodical retrieve.
VARY THE RETRIEVE
Pike are often triggered by the sight of a erratically moving lure. For proof, look no further than how a Husky Jerk retrieved with a series of twitches followed by a pause consistently catches springtime pike. A Rattlin’ Minnow Spoon’s irregular kicking action is another example of an unpredictable action northerns find irresistible. A Rippin’ Rap worked on a jigging retrieve to produce a darting upward movement, followed by the steady fall, is another example.
QUICK TIPS ON ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT FOR SPRING PIKE
Leaders are crucial for preventing bite-offs from toothy pike. Two good options are an 80-pound Fluorocarbon Leader or a 75-pound Titanium Leader.
Pike are aggressive, powerful fish, so it’s best to use no-stretch braided line. ProMix Braid is ideal for spring pike tactics and now comes in high-vis neon lime as well as low-vis green. Use 50-pound ProMix for heavy rod combos, and 30- or 40-pound for medium-heavy rod outfits.
Proper catch and release tools are must-haves for pike. These include jaw spreaders, long-handled pliers, hook removers, a quality, net with rubber treated mesh and a fish gripper.
Messy, unorganized tackle is bad news for any species, but boat clutter is especially risky when big, powerful pike are in the equation. RapStack Tackle Trays usher in a new era of fishing tackle and gear management. These stackable trays are rigid and strong enough to store big, heavy pike lures and jigs, have clear lids and bottoms, come in several sizes and feature a quick latch system you can open with one hand.
Targeting pike in shallow water during spring often involves sight fishing for them. Wearing polarized glasses will significantly improve your ability to identify casting targets and see pike in shallow water.